Judd Jensen, Attorney; Browning, Kaleczyc, Berry, & Hoven P.C.

We continue to receive good news from our Alumni with new position announcements, this one from Judd Jensen.

Judd Jensen recently joined the law firm of Browning, Kaleczyc, Berry, & Hoven P.C. in Bozemon, Montana. Judd reports that the primary focus of his practice is going to be working with the firms Food, Beverage and Gaming Regulatory Group. This group offers a complete range of consulting, licensing and litigation services to Montana’s bars, breweries, restaurants, and casinos. It also provides the more traditional commercial law services to food and beverage processors, distributors and transportation companies. In addition, Judd plans to maintain his agricultural law practice, which primarily consists of representing Montana farmers in their appeals to state and federal agencies, and in their disputes with crop insurance providers. A full biography detailing Judd's work can be found on the firms website. Congratulations Judd!

New LL.M. Video on Agricultural & Food Law

Please help us spread the word about agricultural and food law. We just did this slideshow to answer a few questions and explain what its all about - 

USDA Secretary Vilsack Speaks at the Law School

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack was the featured speaker for the second annual Dale and Betty Bumpers Distinguished Lecture Series, hosted by the Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas with the assistance of the law school. The event was held in the School of Law’s E.J. Ball Courtroom on April 23.

In addition to the public event, Secretary Vilsack conducted a special class in the courtroom for a mixture of LL.M. students, students in Professor Mike Thomsen's Agricultural Marketing class, and graduate students in Agricultural Economics.  Students had an opportunity to question Secretary Vilsack about matters of agricultural and food policy.

From the UA Newswire press release:

Vilsack is the nation’s 30th secretary of agriculture. His goals are to strengthen the American agricultural economy, build vibrant rural communities and secure a stronger future for the American middle class. The United States Department of Agriculture has supported farmers, ranchers and growers who are enjoying record earnings; provided food assistance to one in four Americans; conserved natural resources and helped provide a safe, sufficient and nutritious food supply for the country.

“We are truly honored to welcome Secretary Vilsack to the Bumpers College for our Dale and Betty Bumpers Distinguished Lecture Series,” said Michael Vayda, dean of the Bumpers College. “He brings a wealth of experience in crafting local, state and national policy that supports farming and agriculture, healthy foods and food security, and conserving natural resources, all with a keen eye toward the pursuit of global opportunities. As we enter the second year of our lecture series, we couldn’t be more pleased to partner with the School of Law in hosting the secretary. Throughout the Bumpers College, we challenge our students to pursue the vast array of opportunities in the business of foods, and our students, faculty and staff will benefit from hearing Secretary Vilsack’s perspective on these issues that touch everyone in the state and around the world.”

“We are delighted to play a supporting role to the Bumpers College in hosting Secretary Vilsack,” said Stacy Leeds, dean of the School of Law. “For more than three decades, we have been home to the nation’s only advanced agricultural and food law degree program, and we have recently launched a new initiative aimed at bringing our expertise in the area to empower native communities. Our priorities around this subject area are necessarily interdisciplinary, and we look forward to continued collaborations of this nature.”

To help drive innovation and build thriving economies in rural communities, the USDA is promoting job growth and higher incomes through expanded production of renewable energy, outdoor recreational opportunities, and development of local and regional food supplies.

As chair of the first-ever White House Rural Council, Vilsack and the USDA are taking steps to strengthen services for rural businesses and entrepreneurs who are creating job opportunities by finding new ways to partner with other federal agencies and the private sector to increase investment.

The USDA, at President Obama’s direction and with Vilsack’s leadership, is promoting American agriculture by conducting cutting-edge research and improving markets at home and abroad. The years 2009-12 represent the strongest four years in history for agricultural trade. New trade agreements President Obama signed with Colombia, South Korea and Panama will create even more export opportunities for American farmers and ranchers. In America, the USDA has helped increase the number of farmers markets by 67 percent since 2008, and today there are more than 200 new regional food hubs to help connect farmers with broader regional markets.

“Secretary Vilsack is the voice of agriculture and food for the United States,” said Janie Hipp, director of the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative at the University of Arkansas School of Law. “His coming to the University of Arkansas recognizes the leadership role the university holds in agricultural research, law, education and extension.”

Hipp served as a senior advisor to the Secretary before returning to Arkansas this January to head the new Initiative.

Vilsack and the USDA have enrolled a record number of private working lands in conservation programs and implemented new strategies – such as landscape-scale efforts – to restore forests and clean water supplies. This work is creating private sector jobs protecting and rehabilitating our forests and wetlands, and providing increased opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Under Vilsack’s leadership, the USDA has partnered with First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative to improve the health and nutrition of America’s children. He helped pass and implement the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act, enabling the USDA to help combat child hunger and obesity by making the most significant improvements to school lunches in 30 years. He led a comprehensive effort to improve the safety of the American food supply, implementing changes to food safety standards to prevent illnesses by reducing the prevalence of E. coli, salmonella and campylobacter in our meat and poultry.

He has made civil rights a top priority, reaching historic resolutions to all major past cases of discrimination brought against the USDA by minority groups and taking definitive action to move the USDA into a new era as a model employer and premier service provider.

Prior to his appointment, Vilsack served two terms as governor of Iowa, in the Iowa State Senate and as the mayor of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. A native of Pittsburgh, Penn., Vilsack was born into an orphanage and adopted in 1951. After graduating from Hamilton College and Albany Law School, he moved to Mount Pleasant, his wife Christie’s hometown, where he practiced law. The Vilsacks have two adult sons and two daughters-in-law — Doug, married to Janet; and Jess, married to Kate. They also have two grandchildren.

Matlock Keynote Speaker at International Conference on Challenges of Sustainable Agriculture

Last week the UA Newswire story reported on Marty Matlock, a professor in the biological and agricultural engineering department at the University of Arkansas.  Professor Matlock serves as the Executive Director for the university’s Office for Sustainability and is area director for the Center for Agricultural and Rural Sustainability.

Professor Matlock presented the keynote address at the 4th Global Feed and Food Congress April 10 in Sun City, South Africa.  Matlock’s presentation, “The role of animal agriculture in feeding 10 billion people sustainably,” was part of a three-part session focused on meeting sustainability challenges.

“The challenges, opportunities and potential risks related to sustainable agricultural production are a direct result of competing land uses,” Matlock said. “Agricultural production, including crops, pasture and grazing, currently utilize more than 40 percent of the Earth's surface. In order for global agricultural producers to meet the increasing demand for food, feed, fiber and fuel, while at the same time reducing inputs and impacts, we must use every tool currently available in our collective tool box and continue to develop innovative tools that address emerging problems in an efficient, earth-friendly manner. Our future success is dependent on what we do today.”

From Our Friends in the UA Horticulture Dept: Restoring Regional Food Systems

Prof Kelley Leads One-of-a-kind International Experience in Belarus

Seven University of Arkansas School of Law students got a unique hands-on experience in international law when they traveled to Minsk, Belarus, as part of a course on Transnational Negotiation.

The two-credit-hour course is taught by Professor Christopher Kelley, an expert in international law and emerging legal systems in Eastern Europe, and included a week-long trip over spring break to Belarusian State University in Minsk, paid for by the students. There the American students teamed up with Belarusian law students to engage in negotiation exercises. When not in the classroom, students were invited to meet with Belarusian ministry officials and tour cultural sites.

“This is a unique opportunity in that no American law students have ever been invited to study like this in a group in Belarus before,” Kelley said. Kelley was the first American Law Professor to lecture at Belarusian State University’s law program, lecturing in English on legal writing and negotiation.

“When I did the legal writing class, I asked the Dean if he’d be open to a broader program where American and Belarusian law students could work together, and it grew from there,” he said.

Kelley took on the enormous logistical task of obtaining travel visas for his students and structuring a class around transnational negotiation.

“I’ve done similar trips before – last year I took law students to Moldova – but that was more about comparative law and the students’ own individual legal interests, and it wasn’t the same sort of structured program that we’re doing now,” he said.

While study abroad programs are popular with undergraduate students, lengthy summer abroad programs tend to be less popular in law school because law students traditionally take summer legal jobs instead. The University of Arkansas School of Law offers a summer-long study opportunity in St. Petersburg, Russia, as well as a joint summer program at Cambridge University in England with the University of Mississippi. By offering a week-long study abroad trip, Kelley condensed as much learning as possible into a short period of time.

“It can be hard to get a student to commit to a full summer abroad, especially if you’re looking at a legal career and you’re not sure you want to focus on international law,” he said. “This course with a shorter trip gives students a taste of international law and still leaves their summer free for work or a longer international program.”

Third year law student Andrew “Whit” Cox, who attended the School of Law’s St. Petersburg program in Russia, was a fan of Kelley’s approach. “The negotiations aspect of the course was a great move by Professor Kelley,” he said. “It allowed for much more in class interaction with the Belarusian students than the lectures in the St. Petersburg program.”

“We spent nearly all day, every day in the classroom. Our students have taken practical courses in negotiation, but the Belarusian students had not, so in addition to me doing some lecturing, we paired our students with Belarusian students on negotiation teams. It wasn’t an ‘us vs. them’ set up. Our students were actively engaged with the Belarusian students, which allowed them both to practice and to guide and teach,” Kelley explained.

“All of the students in the course spoke English but some were better at it than others,” second-year law student Angela May said. “So not only were we working on negotiations, we also helped the students who weren’t so strong in English understand what the issue(s) were and in a sense taught helped them with their English skills.”

The in-class exercises gave Arkansas and Belarusian students a chance to interact on a more personal level than is typical in many classes.

“I think this course was unique because the class created interaction, through legal education, with foreign students. The practical exercises that we engaged in with the students from Belarus taught me not only a lot about myself as an individual and American, but also a lot about others,” third-year law student Nick Alexander said. “One student said it all, “we are all people.” I think this theme sums it all up. It was fascinating to see the similarities in negotiating styles between everyone. I was surprised to learn that the students were more alike in their goals than not.”

“My favorite part of the trip was the exchange with the Belarusian students both in class during negotiations and after class when they took us to some of their favorite local joints,” said Cox. “On Thursday night we bought dinner and drinks for the Belarusian students at a traditional Belarusian restaurant to show our appreciation for the wonderful hosts that they were. It was truly a great trip filled with cultural exchange and diplomacy. Professor Kelley did an excellent job of putting this program together.”

Nearly all of the students who attended already had international experience through personal travel, but jumped at the chance to broaden their horizons further.

“I lived in Australia for two years as a missionary for my church, and I was interested in international law before this trip,” said law student Paul Pellegrini. “I’m definitely still interested in a career in international law after going to Belarus. Belarus was amazing!”

The experience furthered a desire to practice internationally for most participants.

“I have always been interested in the international aspects of business and law and someday I hope to live and work abroad,” May said. “Being in Belarus has enhanced my desire to work in international law.”

Alexander added, “I have always considered a career in international law and this course has strongly reaffirmed that desire.”

“I firmly believe that there is a need for lawyers in all areas of the world,” said third year law student Ben Barnett. “Everyone has the same human desires, and if you can help them achieve those, then your services will always be in demand.”

Professor Kelleys' various international law course offerings are available to interested LL.M. students as well as the J.D. students.

LL.M. Alums Take the Lead at USDA Risk Management Agency

We were delighted to have an opportunity to talk via live video conference with two of our distinguished LL.M. alumni last Friday.

Brandon Willis was recently confirmed as the Administrator of the Risk Management Agency (RMA) at the USDA.  The RMA is "the agency that promotes, supports, and regulates sound risk management solutions to preserve and strengthen the economic stability of America's agricultural producers by providing crop insurance to American producers, developing and the premium rate, administering premium and expense subsidy, approving and supporting products, and reinsuring companies."

Prior to accepting the position at RMA, Brandon served as Senior Advisor to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Title I commodity programs, farm legislation matters and disaster assistance.  And, before advising Secretary Vilsack, he served as Deputy Administrator of Farm Programs for USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA).  In that position, he oversaw all FSA programs under the Production Emergencies and Compliance Division (PECD), Conservation and Environmental Programs Division (CEPD), and Price Support Division (PSD).

After Brandon completed his coursework in the LL.M. Program, he went directly to Washington, D.C. to serve as the Agriculture Legislative Assistant for U.S. Senator Max Baucus. He drafted floor statements on agricultural issues and worked closely on legislation, including the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, with a particular focus on the livestock disaster programs. He also drafted legislation that supported the use of existing conservation programs to help fight the declining population of bees and other pollinators.

While in the LL.M. Program, Brandon served as a Graduate Assistant for the National Agricultural Law Center.  He earned his bachelor's degree in crop and soil science from Utah State University in Logan, Utah, and his law degree from the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyo., and his LL.M. degree in Agricultural Law from the University of Arkansas School of Law.

Brandon grew up on a third generation sheep ranch in northern Utah and managed his family's raspberry farm, Bursting Berries.

Along with Brandon, we talked with another alumnus, Benjamin Thomas.  Ben was recently appointed Assistant to the Administrator at RMA. Before accepting the position with Brandon, Ben worked at the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) as a Program Manager, a position that he took immediately after completing his LL.M. course work. While at FSA, he was detailed to the Office of Senator Baucus, where he served the Senate Agriculture Committee and worked on the yet-to-be-passed 2012 Farm Bill.

Ben received his B.A. degree from Austin College (English Literature, German), his J.D. from Washington University School of Law, and his LL.M. in Agricultural & Food Law from the University of Arkansas School of Law.

He grew up on a cotton farm in the Lubbock, Texas area.

Brandon and Ben discussed farm policy issues and fielded questions from the LL.M. class. It was an informative session and a great opportunity to see and hear from alumni that are doing such important work. We are very proud of their accomplishments.

International Connections - ILEX Trip to Warsaw

LL.M. Professor Christopher Kelley continues his outreach through the International Section of the American Bar Association (ABA). The International Law Section is the ABA entity that focuses on international legal issues and leads in the development of international legal policy, the promotion of the rule of law, and the education of international law practitioners. It's mission includes promoting interest, activity, research and education in international and comparative law and to advance the rule of law in the world.

This year, Professor Kelley was honored to once again be invited to join the Section's International Legal Exchange Program (ILEX) annual Briefing Trip. ILEX was created "under the proposition that a worldwide exchange of ideas and programs will lead to a heightened level of learning and understanding for all." One of the ILEX's activities is to arrange for Briefing Trips for a select number of ABA delegates.  These trips provide participants with a "first-hand knowledge of the legal and judicial systems of the particular host country or region" and "provide a unique opportunity for delegation members to interact with legal, business, and governmental leaders of the countries visited and to develop personal and professional contacts throughout the world." The trips are organized in coordination with the government or bar association of the host country.

This year the ILEX trip includes a visit to Warsaw, Poland. As I write this post, Professor Kelley is attending a Welcome Reception for the ILEX Delegation and representatives of the National Council for Legal Advisers, the National Chambers of Advocates Polish Academy of Science, professors from Warsaw University, the Law Faculty Alumni Association and law students. The reception is being held at Warsaw University.

Monday, the ILEX Delegation will meet with the Polish Ministry of Justice and members of Parliament.  They will then have several hours to meet with Hon. Andrzej Rzeplinski, the President of the Polish Constitutional Tribunal, Judges of the Constitutional Tribunal, Judges of the National Supreme Court of Poland, Judges from the National Supreme Administrative Court, lower court Judges, and representatives of the Polish Bar Council. The day concludes with a reception with the Constitutional Tribunal.

On Tuesday, the ILEX delegation will participate in a roundtable discussion on mediation in Poland with representatives from the National Council for Legal Advisors and Ms. Roza Thun, Panel Chair and Member of the European Parliament.

In the afternoon, the delegation will meet with Ambassador Janez Lenarcic, Director of the Office for  Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE/ODIHR).

Thanks in large part to Professor Kelley's outreach, our international connections and opportunities continue to grow.

Professor Kelley currently serves as Chair of the Public International Law Division of the ABA Section of International Law. He previously served three terms as the Co-Chair of the Section's Russia/Eurasia Committee. He also has served as Vice-Chair of the Section's Committee on International Legal Education and Specialist Certification. He was a delegate on the Section's International Legal Exchange (ILEX) briefing trips to Jordan, Lebanon, Australia, and New Zealand.  In the LL.M. Program, he teaches Agriculture & the Environment, Regulated Markets in Agriculture, as well as special seminars.  In the J.D. Program, he teaches Administrative Law, The Rule of Law, International Commercial Arbitration, and Transnational Negotiations.

LL.M. Candidate Andy Frame Attends Mississippi Food Summit

We asked Andy Frame, one of this year's LL.M. Candidates, to write about the conference that he attended last week in his home state of Mississippi. The conference provided a testimony to the energy and enthusiasm for local food and sustainable agriculture today. And, it evidenced the wide range of issues associated with our food system. Andy is great blogger, thanks to his journalism background and this year's work at Food Safety News as the Marler Clark Graduate Assistant.  So, we knew he would do a great job reporting back to us.  Here's Andy's post:

“Don’t just talk about it.  Do it.”

That was one of many messages expressed on Friday, March 1, in Oxford, MS, at the 2013 Mississippi Food Summit, a forum on local food systems and sustainable agriculture.  That particular command was given by Jim Lukens, the executive director of the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group.

A barrage of speakers gave their experienced perspectives on what is happening in Mississippi – and what can happen in the future – to connect the state’s rural and urban citizens through fresh locally grown food.

Mark Winne, an author of several books on regional food systems, served as the keynote speaker.  Winne, a former executive director of the Hartford Food System in Hartford, CT from 1979 to 2003, said his focus is to “develop new standards of community wealth, with a legacy of healthy bodies, clean air and water, and with a food system that is sustainable and just.”

Winne emphasized the importance of active participation in public policy, saying that while “the food revolution,” happens on the ground one project at a time, it is through good food policy where things can change quickly, and in a big way.

If Winne was the pasture-raised pork shoulder on the forum’s prix fix menu of speakers, four panels of farmers, policy makers, non-profit organizers, government employees and successful business leaders fed the crowd the rest of the day from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Each panel had a theme:  Human and Environmental Health; What is a Local Food System?; Models and Innovations, Invigorating Local and Regional Economies; and Building Community, Opening Doors and Strengthening Partnerships.

The conference was a success in that every speaker offered a different way of looking at this complex food movement.  By no means is this all inclusive of what was said on Friday.  This is a brief summary of roughly half of the speakers.

Human and Environmental Health

Nancy Woodruff, the new president of the Mississippi Food Policy Council, came to Louisville, MS, five years ago as a holistic health practitioner.  Woodruff said she had to stop counseling people through holistic methods because of the lack of a base of high quality foods necessary for her success.  Now through the Mississippi Food Policy Council, she is promoting “farm-to-school” programs and farmers markets around the state.

Donna Speed, the Director of Nutrition Services for the Mississippi State Board of Health, added to the conversation on connecting farmers to schools by talking about her role in the farm-to-preschool program.  Speed was glad to report that Mississippi is in the top three in the country for preschool nutrition guidelines.  “Farmers need to be aware of what the Department of Health is looking for,” Speed said.  “The nutrition guidelines will drive demand for farmers.”

Speed said schools aren’t the only place for farmers and youth to connect.  Childcare centers need food also, she said, and parents are asking those childcare centers to provide healthier foods more than ever.

Finally, Speed said having gardens at the schools helps educate children about what they are eating.

“If the kids grow it, they’re going to eat it,” Speed said.

“What is a Local Food System?”

Shelly Johnstone talked about the progress she’s been a part of in Hernando, MS, as manager of the Hernando Farmers Market, and through development of a food hub that would connect local growers with a wider market.

Edwin Marty from EAT South talked about each segment of our food system.  He discussed production (growing plants and raising animals), processing (transforming and packaging), distribution (transporting, storing, and marketing), consumption (purchasing, preparing, and eating), and waste (composting and discarding).  Marty emphasized that a food system could never be considered sustainable if it failed to account for waste.

Marty, who recently published a book, Breaking Through Concrete, asked the advocates in the room to create food systems with intention by thinking about the consequences of each decision they make.

Tupelo farmer Will Reed, who founded Native Son Farm in 2010, talked about his business, which involves selling his fresh produce through a CSA (community supported agriculture), to local restaurants, and through direct sales.

Reed said his goals are to be economically stable, influence healthy eating in the community, use environmentally stable practices, grow vegetables in nutrient rich soil, and add to the local culture.  Reed listed a lack of infrastructure and a need for a better input supply chain as challenges to his business and to local food production in general.

Models and Innovations, Invigorating Local and Regional Economies

Paige Manning, the Director of Marketing and Public Relations for the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, began the third panel by discussing the growth of farmers markets in the state.  In just a few years, markets have grown from around 20 to more than 70 (26 of those being certified).  Manning stressed the benefits for state certification – which includes a sales tax exemption for growers – but pointed out that getting certified is not a difficult barrier to get past.

Mississippi state senator Gray Tollison discussed two bills aimed at supporting local food: HB 798 and HB 715.  HB 798, the Healthy Food Retail Act, recently passed the House and is due for a vote in the Senate.  It would seemingly provide healthy food retailers and non-profits access to funds through grants and loans.

HB 715 died in committee, however.  It would have exempted certain cottage food producers (homemade products such as jellies and baked goods) from certain health code regulations.

Building Community, Opening Doors and Strengthening Partnerships

Jim Ewing, a journalist, author, and organic farmer from Lena, MS, moderated the final panel.  Ewing recently published a book, Conscious Food: Sustainable Growing, Spiritual Eating.

Karen Wynne came to Oxford from the Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network to share her experiences connecting with non-profits, farmer cooperatives, schools, and other stakeholders in a regional food system.  Her advice for anyone attempting to do the same was to look for authentic relationships, treat everyone like a leader, and support the organizations that are already doing the work they want to accomplish.

Keith Benson, a Holmes County, MS, native who works with the Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture Production, had a clear message:  “With whatever you are planning, make sure you plan it with the farmers.”  Benson asserted that any sustainable food system would fail if the limited-resourced farmers were not supported, and therefore could not be relied upon to produce.

Benson added that a farmer’s most important needs are labor, equipment, and a reliable water source.

Glyen Holmes, another Holmes County native, began bringing food from farms to school in the mid-90s, and is still doing so with the New North Florida Cooperative.  Holmes showed a video clip of a CBS news report that showed him driving a refrigerated truck of fresh vegetables to schools in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi.  He advised people trying to start similar projects to network, be professional, and to not promise more than you can do.

Mary Berry finished off the day by talking about her work with the Berry Center, a new organization based in Kentucky that is based on the work of her father Wendell Berry, her grandfather John M. Berry, Sr., and her uncle John M. Berry, Jr.  The Berry Center’s goals include the study of small-farm agriculture and young-farmer education.

After a day packed with energized speakers, the conference was handed over to the Gaining Ground Sustainability Institute on Saturday for their annual Sustainable Living Conference.  Workshops included cooking from the garden year-round, how to make a worm bin, Mississippi edible perennials, green-building home improvements, a food policy council session with Mark Winne, canning, and home brewing, among many others.

Andrew D. Frame

LL.M. Candidate, LL.M Program in Agricultural & Food Law, University of Arkansas School of Law (graduation anticipated May 2013)

2012-13 Marler Clark Graduate Assistant

J.D., Mississippi College School of Law, cum laude

B.A., Auburn University (Journalism and Communications)

Experience includes Judicial Intern, The Honorable David Chandler, Mississippi Supreme Court; Law Clerk, Randall Segrest; Legal Intern, Office of Indigent Appeals

Other professional experience:  Realtor, Keller Williams Greater Athens, Athens, Georgia

Exciting LL.M. Independent Study Projects

The 2013 LL.M. class includes an ambitious group of attorneys tackling the issues that drive the public's growing interest in agriculture, the environment, and our food system through personalized Independent Study Projects.

LL.M. Candidate Sara Albert is collaborating with the University of Arkansas Community Design Center on an urban development model for the fifty percent increase to Fayetteville's built environment that is expected by the year 2030. The project, Fayetteville 2030: Food City Scenario, envisions a future based on food security, linking local food production to urban development. The final design model will incorporate urban agricultural land uses and relevant infrastructure that would support the development of Fayetteville as a local "food shed." Sara is assisting by providing legal research, analysis, and guidance on topics as identified by project leaders throughout the planning and design stages.

Sara will also be working with fellow LL.M. Candidate and Graduate Assistant to the LL.M. Program, Nicole Civita on a second independent study that will examine issues related to food justice. This study, titled Hunger, Access and Food Justice examines the persistent but under-recognized problems of hunger and malnutrition in America, with attention to the economics of healthy eating, the presence of urban, rural, and tribal food deserts, the rampant waste of food that occurs in both institutional and domestic settings, wealth disparities and worker poverty within the food system. Sara's work within this study will focus on identifying legal and advocacy work that might be done to create transformational change while Nicole plans to research and address these issues through the creation of a comprehensive set of teaching materials for a graduate level course in Food Justice.

LL.M. candidate, Lauren Handel is developing a alcoholic beverage law practice guide that will she will use in her practice when she returns to New York.  Lauren will be representing those involved in the food and beverage industry in the New York area. The guide considers the special regulations applicable to the sale and manufacture of alcoholic beverages and will be a useful tool for her as an attorney as well as for her future clients.

LL.M. Candidate Todd Heyman is providing work with the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), a Boston-based non-profit organization that uses "the law, science, policymaking, and the business market to find pragmatic, innovative solutions to New England’s toughest environmental problems."   Todd is providing legal research and writing in support of their Farm & Food Initiative, as well as other projects in CLF's Healthy Communities program.

LL.M. Candidate Adam Soliman is designing a course in Canadian Agriculture, Resource and Food Law. Adam's work will fill a void in Canadian legal education, as many law schools there do not teach Agriculture & Food Law. The course will address Agriculture Law, Resource Law and Food Law through a series of 14 units, each designed to cover one distinct topic, including sessions on topics such as Fisheries Law, Animal Welfare, Religious Food, and Nanomaterial & Food.

LL.M. Candidate and Visiting Scholar, Professor Pamela Vesilinds' study focuses on the development of an online course, Animals in Agriculture. This online course will cover the evolution and regulation of animal agriculture in America, contrasted with farmed animal welfare policies in other developed nations. Materials will cover laws related to the breeding, raising, feeding, transporting and slaughtering of land and marine animals used for food. Although the course will touch on multiple interrelated disciplines, including food safety law, agricultural law, labor law, environmental law, and business regulations law, the focus will remain on the laws and market pressures affecting the conditions of farmed animals while they are alive.

Ray Watson Named Illinois Dept of Ag General Counsel

Ray Watson was recently named General Counsel for the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Ray is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and Catholic University Law School. He received his LL.M. in Agricultural Law from the University of Arkansas School of Law, and I am pleased to mention that we were in the same class.  We had a fun group, and I have lots of good memories  - classes taught by Professors Pedersen and Looney, hiking the Ozark Highlands Trail system, and Notre Dame football parties at Ray's house. It was great fun to catch up with Ray last August at the Alumni Reunion and to meet his wife, Sue Gschwendtner.

Ray began his service to the State of Illinois in 1984 as an Assistant Attorney General. He became Deputy Chief of the Attorney General’s Agricultural Law Division in 1985 and Chief in 1987, where he provided representation to the Department of Agriculture as well as assistance to farmers facing the debt crisis of the 1980s. In 1991, after completing the LL.M. Program, Ray began a private practice, concentrating in agricultural law. Ray has spoken at several ISBA CLE programs on agricultural law issues. From 1999 until 2013, Ray worked for the Secretary of State as an Assistant General Counsel and as Executive Secretary of the Secretary of State Merit Commission. We are delighted to announce his new position as General Counsel to the Agriculture Department.

Ray was raised on a corn and soybean farm outside Odell, Illinois that is still operated by his brother.

Legal Issues in Agricultural & Food Law: Biotechnology

This week, Mark Henry, an experienced patent attorney and adjunct professor will deliver the first lecture in our unit on Agricultural Biotechnology in our Legal Issues in Agricultural & Food Law.  Professor Henry has taught Agricultural Biotechnology for us in the past, and we are delighted to have him back in the classroom. The class will focus on the development of intellectual property law as applied to genetic engineering, covering the three foundational cases, Diamond v. Chakrabarty, 447 U.S. 303 (1980); J.E.M. Ag Supply, Inc. v. Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. 534 U.S. 124 (2001); and Monsanto v. David, 516 F.3d 1009 (Fed. Cir. 2008).

Next week, we will read about and listen to the oral arguments in the Bowman v. Monsanto case that is before the Supreme Court. The case will be argued on February 19.  The briefs are all available on the SCOTUS blog and an audio recording of the oral arguments are available on the Friday after the hearing on the U.S. Supreme Court website.  The case has generated much interest and has been reported in the news nationally and internationally.  See, e.g., Farmer’s Use of Genetically Modified Soybeans Grows into Supreme Court Case, in the Washington Post and Indiana Soybean Farmer Sees Monsanto Lawsuit Reach US Supreme Court in the Guardian.

On February 27th, Professor Henry will come back to discuss the case with us.  And, for a follow up discussion, we will talk with Professor Bryan Endres from the University of Illinois.  Professor Endres has tracked agricultural biotechnology issues for some time and will present on his recent article, An Evolutionary Approach to Agricultural Biotechnology: Litigation Challenges to the Regulatory and Common Law Regimes for Genetically Engineered Plants, 4 Northeastern Univ. L.J. (forthcoming 2011).

Dr. Jeannie Whayne Speaks on Agricultural History in the Delta

Agricultural History Professor and noted author Jeannie Whayne visited the LL.M. Class on Friday to discuss her recent book on the Lee Wilson plantation in northeastern Arkansas, Delta Empire: Lee Wilson and the Transformation of Southern Agriculture.

Delta Empire is a social, economic, and environmental history that traces the Wilson family plantation through distinct phases in the post Civil War period and analyzes how it intersected with trends in plantation agriculture, race relations, and environmental changes. It won the 2012 John G. Ragsdale prize from the Arkansas Historical Association.

Professor Whayne has published over a dozen articles and essays on Arkansas, African American, and Southern history. She has edited, authored, and co-authored nine books, including A Whole Country in Commotion, edited with Patrick Williams and S. Charles Bolton, and The Clinton Riddle: Essays on the 42nd President, edited with Todd Shields and Donald Kelley. Two of her books won the Arkansas Library Association's Arkansiana Award: Arkansas: A Narrative History, co-authored with Thomas DeBlack, George Sabo, and Morris Arnold, and her 1996 book, A New Plantation South: Land, Labor, and Federal Favor in Twentieth Century, Arkansas.  She is a frequent speaker at historical conferences and is the Vice -President and President-Elect of the Agricultural History Society.  She is currently working on a book on Memphis as "Cotton's Metropolis."  Professor Whayne teaches in the History Department at the University of Arkansas and serves as co-director of the University’s Teaching and Faculty Support Center.

A chapter from Professor Whayne's book A New Plantation South has been a regular assigned reading in our Agricultural Perspectives class in recent years. Agricultural Perspectives examines agricultural history through a series of documentaries and readings and considers how these historical events have shaped agricultural policies today. Readings and discussion seek to link the past to the present to the future, recognizing that today's issues are often best understood in the context of this history.

Professor Whayne's work illustrates our study of race relations in the post Civil War period and accompanied our viewing of the California Newsreel Documentary, Oh, Freedom After While.

We were delighted to have Professor Whayne as our guest speaker, and she delivered a fascinating presentation.

James Haley Appointed Research Fellow for Food Recovery Project

In the United States, we waste from 1/3-1/2 of the food we produce.  By one estimate, this constitutes about 150 trillion calories.  Two billion people could be fed for a year with the amount of food that is thrown away in the U.S. each year.

Getty Images

In addition to the food waste, however, consider all of the resources that went into the production and sale of that food -  the production inputs, the processing, the packaging, the transportation -  all simply wasted. 

And, waste is not only expensive, it's bad for the environment.  More than 34 million tons of food waste is generated in the U.S. each year. Nationally, it's the single largest component of Municipal Solid Waste that goes into landfills and incinerators. 

Meanwhile, 14.5% of our population is "food insecure." Arkansas has one of the highest rates in the U.S. with a food insecurity rate of 18.6% rate.  Even more alarming -  28.6% of Arkansas children are food insecure. 

Thanks to the generous award of assistance from the University of Arkansas Women's Giving Circle, the LL.M. Program hopes to do something to address these problems.  We are undertaking the Food Recovery Information Project.  

Businesses seem to almost uniformly say that they cannot donate food because of liability concerns.  Yet, there is a federal law, the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act that provides excellent protection.  Some state laws provide even more protection. We will be drafting a guide that explains the statutory protection, analyzes what a business needs to do in order stay within the terms of the law, and encourages businesses to develop safe, sensible food recovery policies. Extra food should first go to non-profits that can use it to feed those in need. Food that is not acceptable for human donation can often be used in animal production; and anything else should be composted.  

We are excited to announce that LL.M. Candidate and Arkansas attorney, James Haley, has been named Research Fellow for the Food Recovery Project. 

James received his J.D. from the University of Arkansas where he served as the Executive Editor of the Journal of Food Law & Policy and as an extern in Walmart’s Environmental Compliance department. James received his M.B.A. from Columbia Southern University while on active duty in the United States Marine Corps, where he served in the infantry for twenty years. James is licensed to practice in Arkansas and will be working with area businesses in the development of the guide.

We thank the Women's Giving Circle for making this project possible.  And, we are delighted to have another project that links our food and agricultural law studies with real world problems and solutions.

Claire Mitchell Interviewed on Washington State Marijuana Law

Claire Mitchell, LL.M. Class of 2010-2011, was recently interviewed on LXBN TV on the implementation of Washington State's vote to legalize marijuana. Claire is with Stoel Rives, in Seattle, Washington, working as an associate attorney in the Technology and Intellectual Property group. She focuses her practice on regulatory compliance and risk management within the food, animal feed, beverage, and dietary supplement industries.

Check our her interview below.  Nice, work, Claire.

 

K.C. Dupps Tucker Elected Partner at Basset Law

We are pleased to announce that LL.M. Alumna K.C. Dupps Tucker was elected as a partner to the Bassett Law Firm.

K.C. joined the LL.M. program in the fall of 2007 and completed her LL.M. degree in 2008. While in the Program, K.C. served as a Graduate Assistant at the National Agricultural Law Center. K.C. earned her B.A. from Colorado College, with majors in Political Science and Theatre. She received her J.D. degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law.

While in law school, she was selected to serve as the first Corporate Extern in the Wal-Mart Legal Department. There, she worked on international service contract review, international lease preparations, and legal research and writing on international labor issues, current European Union legislation, and investor relations.

K.C. is admitted to practice before the State and Federal courts in Arkansas and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Her practice involves representing individuals and corporations in all phases of complex civil litigation—with a focus on environmental and agricultural issues.

The Bassett Law Firm LLP, located in Fayetteville, serves clients in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri.  The firm is included in the 2012 Martindale-Hubbell® Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers™, and has been recognized by the national publication Corporate Counsel as a full service law firm and by Fortune magazine as a “go to” litigation firm for top U.S. companies.

In addition to her practice, K.C. is active in the Northwest Arkansas community and serves as the President of the Board of Directors for the Peace at Home Family Shelter.

Congratulations K.C.!

Harvard Reception for Peter Barton Hutt

I am reposting information about this week's reception at Harvard Law School honoring Professor Peter Barton Hutt, as I learned that the poster embedded earlier did not show up on all computer platforms.

In addition, we have an update.  Thanks to the graphic talents of this year's LL.M. candidate, Nicole Civita, we were able to create a collection of photographs from Professor Hutt's LL.M. class last Fall.  We had it framed, and it is on its way to LL.M. alumna, Alli Condra.  Alli is a Fellow in the Food Policy Clinic at Harvard, and she is going to personally give the print to Professor Hutt at the reception. The print is displayed below.  A special thank you to Nicole.

Indigenous Food & Agriculture Initiative Launched

The University of Arkansas School of Law will launch the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative on Tuesday, Jan. 15. It will be the nation’s first law school initiative focusing on tribal food systems, agriculture and community sustainability.

The initiative will draw on the nationally recognized expertise of LL.M. Alumna Janie Simms Hipp, who leaves her post as the senior adviser for tribal relations to USDA Secretary Thomas Vilsack and on that of Stacy Leeds, currently the only Native American law school dean in the country. Janie will serve as director of the initiative and as visiting professor of law.

“The National Congress of American Indians applauds the creation of this new initiative,” said Jefferson Keel, president of the organization, which is the oldest, largest and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native tribal government organization in the United States. “Ms. Hipp accomplished many important goals during her time as senior adviser at USDA, and Dean Leeds is a leader in tribal governance and land issues. The NCAI leadership has long recognized that growing and sustaining food and ag businesses is essential to stabilizing our communities, and this initiative is poised to provide leadership in this important area.”

Among its strategic plans, the initiative will provide educational and technical assistance to tribal governments, private entities and businesses engaging or entering the food sector. Other areas of research, service and education will include agriculture, health and nutrition law and policy development, professional training of government and corporate leaders, and the formation of pipeline programs to engage students at the community level and foster them through four-year higher education institutions, law and graduate opportunities.

“I am honored and thrilled to return to my alma mater and to Northwest Arkansas to assist the dean, the School of Law and the University of Arkansas in this important endeavor,” said Hipp, a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation. “The initiative we are embarking upon will support tribal governments and rural communities throughout our region and the nation in making investments in our nation’s food and energy security. When indigenous communities use their natural resources to create jobs and strengthen local communities, we all benefit.”

The Arkansas Newswire press release noted that Janie is "an attorney and graduate of the School of Law’s internationally renowned master of laws program in Agricultural and Food Law, the nation’s only advanced law degree program in agricultural and food law. She is the founder of the USDA’s Office of Tribal Relations in the Office of the Secretary and served two terms on the USDA Secretary’s Advisory Committee for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers. She also served on two delegations to the United Nations in the areas of women’s issues and indigenous issues."

“The Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative is very much in line with the University of Arkansas’s historic commitments to diverse communities and with our mission as a land grant institution,” said Sharon Gaber, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs.

Leeds is one of five commissioners of the Secretarial Commission on Indian Trust Administration and Reform, established by Secretary Ken Salazar of the U.S. Department of Interior. The commission was created to conduct a comprehensive two year evaluation of the department’s management and administration of nearly $4 billion in American Indian trust assets and to offer recommendations on improvements in the future. She will be honored in February with the American Bar Association’s Spirit of Excellence Award for her contributions to enhancing diversity in the legal profession.

“This interdisciplinary initiative plays to the strengths of the university and the law school,” said Leeds, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. “It will further enrich our highly acclaimed LL.M. program in Agricultural and Food Law, which has produced many of our nation’s most well-respected agriculture law and policy leaders, including Janie Hipp.”

We are delighted to welcome Janie back to Arkansas, and we look forward to many ways that the new initiative will contribute to the rich agricultural and food law curriculum we offer our LL.M. candidates.  And, we look forward to helping to further its important work.

An exciting way to start of the new year!

Excellent LL.M. Program Representation at the Annual AALS Conference

This week, the American Association of Law Schools (AALS) is meeting in New Orleans. Although I am privileged to serve on the Executive Committee of the AALS Agricultural & Food Law Section, I was not able to attend this year's meeting.  I am pleased to report, however, that the LL.M. Program is very well represented.

One of our alumni, Alison Peck is chair of the Agricultural & Food Law section, and she developed an excellent panel presentation for the conference, "Exploring the Links Between Food & Agriculture Policy and Obesity," co-sponsored by the Section on Law, Medicine & Health Care.

Alison is an Associate Professor of Law at the University of West Virginia School of Law. She received her B.A. degree Summa cum laude from Butler University (Journalism, Spanish & French); her J.D. degree from Yale Law School, serving as Notes Editor for the Yale Law Journal; and she received her LL.M. in Agricultural Law in 2008.  She previously taught Sustainable Agriculture & the Law in the LL.M. Program and International Environmental Law in the J.D. Program at the University of Arkansas School of Law.

Alison is well regarded for her work in agricultural and food law. Last year at the AALS, I was pleased to present on a panel with Alison where she delivered an Update on USDA Regulation of Biotechnology.  Alison has written on the difficulties associated with regulating GMOs including, Levelling the Playing Field in GMO Risk Assessment: Importers, Exporters, and the Limits of Science, 28 Boston Univ. Int'l L.J. (2010) and Toward an Advocacy Strategy for GMO Accountability, 21 Geo. Int'l Envtl. L. Rev. 37 (2008).  And, last year she authored the interesting look at the history of food regulation, Revisiting the Tea Party: The History of Regulating Food Consumption in America, 80 UMKC L. Rev. 1 (2011).  Her outreach work includes presenting at the West Virginia Farm to Schools Conference, Morgantown, WV on Giving Geographic Preference for Local Foods.

The panel presentation this year will feature professors Richard A. Daynard from Northeastern University School of Law, Emily Broad Leib, Harvard Law School, Lindsay F. Wiley from American University, Washington College of Law, and Pamela A. Vesilind, an LL.M. candidate in this year's class.

Pamela came to us from the University of Vermont Law School where she was a Visiting Professor and Fellow with the Center for Agriculture & Food Systems. She has continued to work with the Center and with the Distance Learning Program at Vermont.  She now holds the title of Scholar in Residence at the University of Arkansas School of Law and serves as Adjunct Professor in addition to being an LL.M. Candidate. Pamela has written a number of recent articles on agricultural and food law topics, with a special focus on animal welfare issues associated with livestock production.  They include, Emerging Constitutional Threats to Food Labeling Reform, Chapman J. of L. & Pol'y (forthcoming), NAFTA's Trojan Horse & the Demise of the Mexican Hog Industry, 42 U. Miami Inter-Am. L. Rev. 1 (2011); and, Continental Drift: Agricultural Trade and the Widening Gap Between European Union and United States Animal Welfare Laws, 12 VT J. Envtl. L. 1 (2010). She will be one of the speakers at the upcoming 20th Annual Animal Law Conference at Lewis & Clark Law School, and her work in progress includes The Humane Methods of Slaughter Act is Unconstitutional, but That’s Not a Bad Thing.

Articles from this AALS section presentation will be published in the Spring 2013 issue of the University of Arkansas School of Law Journal of Food Law & Policy.

Professor Peter Barton Hutt To Be Honored at Harvard Law School

We are proud to share the following announcement regarding Peter Barton Hutt, a visiting condensed course professor who taught Selected Issues in Food Law last Fall in the LL.M. Program.  Congratulations, Professor Hutt!

Lauren Medoff, Staff Attorney at AdvoCare International, LP.

We continue to receive good news from our Alumni with new position announcements, this one from Lauren Medoff.

Lauren Medoff now serves as a Staff Attorney with AdvoCare International, L.P. AdvoCare is a premier health and wellness direct-selling company that offers energy, weight-loss, nutrition, and sports performance products. Lauren reports that her work focuses on research and development to improve the AdvoCare product line, as well as lobbying for state and federal matters affecting both the direct-selling and supplement industry. In addition, Lauren trains distributors on policy and procedure, while also working on state and federal compliance issues.

Lauren was in the LL.M. class of 2011. She obtained her J.D. degree cum laude, from the University of Miami; her B.A. degree, cum laude from the University of Florida, with a major in Psychology; and her B.S. degree, University of Florida, cum laude with a degree in Criminology. Lauren served as a Federal Certified Legal Intern with the U.S. Attorney's office working on issues involving food safety and criminal liability.  She served as a Research Assistant to Professor Susan Schneider during her LL.M. studies.

Lauren's position with AdvoCare perfectly blends her interests in sports and nutrition, and as Lauren accurately states, this placement is "another win for the LL.M. family." Congratulations Lauren!

Chris Saunders, Staff Attorney with NC Research Division

Another in a series of alumni news posts -  Congratulations to Chris Saunders.

We are delighted to report that Chris Saunders has accepted the position of Staff Attorney with the North Carolina General Assembly Research Division.  In this role, Chris responds to state legislators' research requests, drafts legislation, and will staff committees when the legislative session resumes in 2013.  Chris's areas of specialization are food and agriculture, animals and wildlife, state and local government, emergency management, and administrative law.  This is a perfect fit with his interests and the skills he honed as an LL.M. candidate.  As part of the hiring process, Chris was told that the LL.M. was very helpful in evidencing his special expertise. We are delighted to have helped such a talented attorney find a great job in his home state. And, we are confident that Chris will do an excellent job in his new position.

Chris received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering and his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from North Carolina State University.  He received his J.D. degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law.  He co-authored a presentation at 2010 American Agricultural Law Association Symposium, Solar Energy: Is It Really A Bright Idea for Farmers? with Ray Starling, General Counsel, North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.  His professional experience includes work with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services.  He attended the LL.M. Program 2011-2012 and was selected for the Henry Law Firm Graduate Assistantship.  He obtained his LL.M. degree in 2012, completing his final article entitled, Public Agricultural Research in the United States: Structure, Shortcomings, and Future Benefits.  Immediately after completing his course work, Chris worked in D.C. with the US Patent and Trademark Office.

David Jackson, Senior Director of Customs and Industry Compliance

We have had a very busy semester in the LL.M. Program, and our alumni have been even busier.  I have lots of new position announcements to report, beginning with this great news from David Jackson.  More to come -  the good news is stacked up on my desk!  So stay tuned -  

In September, David accepted a position with the Retail Industry Leaders Association as the Senior Director of Customs and Industry Compliance.  RILA is a trade association representing the interests of the largest retailers in the country, and among its members are Wal-Mart, Target, Home Depot, Lowes, Safeway, Dollar General, Whole Foods, Apple, Gap, Ikea, and other very well known retailers.  In his new position, David with many teams in the organization - the International Trade group where his experience with customs practice is helpful, as an attorney in the Legal Affairs department, and as a regulatory advisor for those submitting comments to Federal Register notices.  He reports that he has a broad spectrum of responsibility is really enjoying the experience.

While David came into the LL.M. Program with prior import experience, his LL.M. Program studies included both coursework involving food law & policy issues and an externship at Walmart.  Don Wiseman, senior associate general counsel for food safety and regulatory compliance and consumer product safety and compliance, was his externship supervisor at Walmart. David's experience working with Don at Walmart was a definite asset to him in landing the RILA position.

Prior to accepting the position with RILA, David worked with Robert Lehrman and Lehrman Beverage Law.   David will be publishing two articles for a new Springer publication entitled The Encyclopedia of Food and Agricultural Ethics.  David's articles involve the WTO Agriculture Agreement and the WTO SPS Agreement.

"Rocky Ford" Listeria Cantaloupe Outbreak – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - How a Fruit Killed 33 Americans

On Friday, November 9th, food safety attorney, Bill Marler delivered a special public forum on food safety titled, "Rocky Ford" Listeria Cantaloupe Outbreak – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly -  How a Fruit Killed 33 Americans.  His presentation was recorded, and it is embedded below.

An accomplished attorney and national expert in food safety, Bill Marler has become the most prominent foodborne illness lawyer in America and has played a major force in food policy. His firm, Marler Clark, has represented thousands of individuals in claims against food companies whose contaminated products have caused life altering injury and death. Marler Clark sponsors the acclaimed online daily newspaper, Food Safety News.

Bill Marler's presentation is part of the condensed course that he teaches for us in the LL.M. Program on food safety litigation and policy.

New Video About UA and Northwest Arkansas

USDA OGC Associate Counsel David Grahn Returns to Teach

David Grahn is back with us, offering a fast-paced look at federal budget issues in Washington including Scoring, Paygo, OMB, and OIRA.  His course, fondly called, How OZ Really Works, explores how budget scoring and related calculations drive substantive policy decisions behind the scenes.

David serves as Associate General Counsel for International Affairs, Food Assistance, and Farm and Rural Programs in the Office of General Counsel of the USDA. He has served at USDA OGC since 2002 and was promoted to a new expanded position in 2011. Also in 2011, he was awarded the Meritorious Presidential Rank Award for his service to the U.S. government, and he received the Excellence in Agriculture Award from the American Agricultural Law Association.

From 1996 through 2002, David was the Assistant General Counsel for Legislation, responsible for drafting and reviewing legislation affecting the USDA. He was previously detailed to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, where he worked on the 1996 Farm Bill. From 1992 through 1995, David served as a Confidential Assistant to the Administrator of the Farm Service Agency. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School and Carleton College in Minnesota.

When USDA Secretary Vilsack spoke at the American Agricultural Law Association annual symposium last month in Nashville, he praised David's service to the USDA and the wise counsel he provides. We are very grateful to David for his willingness to teach - he volunteers his time to the Program - and his course provides our candidates with a unique window into Congressional budgeting and policy making.

Food Safety Litigation Class Presents Plaintiff and Defendant's Perspectives

Members of our LL.M. class are thoroughly enjoying their Food Safety Litigation class taught by attorney Bill Marler.

Yesterday, they were treated in the morning to presentations from Bill, speaking as the most successful food borne illness plaintiff's attorney in the United States. They learned about his practice, his clients, and the passion that he brings to his work.

Then, as a new twist to the class, Bill brought in attorney Josh Swiger from Atlanta, Georgia, as Bill's special guest speaker for the afternoon session. Josh is Of Counsel with the Wienberg, Wheeler, Hudgins, Gunn & Dial law firm, where food borne defense work makes up a large portion of his practice. Josh's representative case work in this area includes:

• Successfully resolved punitive damages and personal injury claims against food processor client during bifurcated trial in Federal Court in Utah in 2011;
• Represents Mid-West beef processor in national E. coli outbreak in the Summer of 2008 with over 80 confirmed cases linked to the outbreak;
• Represents California lettuce processor in Northeast E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in November-December 2006 (Taco Bell E. coli outbreak);
• Represents California spinach processor in national E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in August 2006.

It was a tremendous opportunity for our class, and we are very grateful to both Bill and Josh for their contributions to our curriculum.

Bill is back in the classroom today, discussing his work with Stephanie Smith's case and his pro bono representation of the FSIS officials sued in the BPI "Pink Slime" defamation suit against ABC news. This afternoon he delivers his public forum, The “Rocky Ford” Listeria Cantaloupe Outbreak – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly -  How a Fruit Killed 33 Americans. 

Bill Marler Speaks on "Rocky Ford" Listeria Cantaloupe Outbreak

Please join us for the following special public forum at the University of Arkansas School of Law,  Friday, November 9th, featuring Bill Marler of Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm -

The “Rocky Ford” Listeria Cantaloupe Outbreak – 

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly – How a fruit killed 33 Americans

November 9, 2012 

1:00 - 1:50 p.m.   CLE credit approved in Arkansas

Room 339, University of Arkansas School of Law

An accomplished attorney and national expert in food safety, William (Bill) Marler has become the most prominent foodborne illness lawyer in America and a major force in food policy in the U.S. and around the world. Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, has represented thousands of individuals in claims against food companies whose contaminated products have caused life altering injury and even death. Marler Clark sponsors the acclaimed online daily newspaper, Food Safety News.

Bill Marler's presentation is part of the condensed course that he teaches for us in the LL.M. Program in Agricultural & Food Law on food safety litigation and policy.  Marler Clark also sponsors a Graduate Assistantship position in the LL.M. Program, allowing one of our candidates to write for Food Safety News.  Andrew Frame, B.A., Auburn University (Journalism and Communications); J.D., Mississippi College School of Law, cum laude is the 2012-13 recipient of the Marler Clark Assistantship.  We are grateful to Bill Marler, Marler Clark, and the professionals at Food Safety News for their support to our LL.M. Program.  And, we are particularly delighted to welcome Bill back to Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas.

Allen Olson Teaches Federal Farm Programs Class

Allen Olson is back with us teaching in the LL.M. Program as one of our condensed course professors.  He is teaching a course on Federal Farm Programs, and he teaches it with a real emphasis on what it's like to represent farmers, including those with large and small operations.

With over 30 years of experience as a practicing lawyer, much of it involved in representing farmers and agribusinesses, plus prior teaching experience in the LL.M. Program, we are always delighted to welcome Allen back to Fayetteville.

Allen received his B.A. from Cornell University in 1971, his J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1974, and his LL.M. in Agricultural Law from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 1996. He has practiced law in Virginia, Nebraska and Georgia.

He is a past member of the Board of Directors of the American Agricultural Law Association and is a past Chair of the Agriculture Law Section of the Georgia State Bar. He is the author of numerous articles on agricultural law topics and is a frequent speaker at agricultural law conferences nationwide.

Allen has a law office in Albany, Georgia with a practice concentrated on agricultural law matters, including federal farm programs, payment limitations, USDA administrative appeals, crop insurance litigation, conservation easements, farm business planning, and other matters affecting farmers and related agricultural businesses.

This is the third year in a row that Allen has taught this course.  He has been warmly received by the LL.M. candidates and maintains contact with several of our alumni who are developing their practices.  We are grateful for his assistance and his expertise.

Fayetteville 2030: Food City Scenario Plan

The LL.M. Program is pleased to support the work of the Community Design Center, an outreach center of the Fay Jones School of Architecture at the University of Arkansas in its exciting work on urban agricultural planning for future area growth.

As was announced last week, an interdisciplinary team at the University of Arkansas will work with the City of Fayetteville and local non-governmental organizations to create Fayetteville 2030: Food City Scenario Plan. This urban agricultural plan will be designed for a city that is expected to double in population over the next 20 years. The goal is to incorporate local food sourcing within the city.

The design center recently received $15,000 in seed money from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) to begin the project. The award is part of the new Decade of Design awards sponsored by the AIA in partnership with the Clinton Global Initiative and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture. The project may well serve as a national and international model for agrarian urbanism.

I was delighted to meet with some of the architecture students a few weeks ago to introduce law and policy issues into their discussion at the invitation of Professor Jeffrey Huber, assistant director for the Community Design Center and adjunct professor in the Fay Jones School.  One of our current LL.M. candidates, Sara Albert, plans to do work with urban agricultural initiatives next semester, working with Professor Huber on this project. We are fortunate at the University of Arkansas to have the Community Design Center taking such a leadership role on emerging issues.

Read more about this exciting project in the full announcement, available on the School of Law's website, Design Center to Partner with City, Local NGOs to Create Urban Agricultural Scenario Plan.